Wide Horizons For Children stands against new U.S. House Appropriation Aderholt Amendment allowing LGBTQ discrimination by tax-funded adoption agencies

(Boston, MA – July 19, 2018) — On July 11th, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee passed the Aderholt Amendment that allows tax-funded adoption agencies to discriminate against same-sex couples based on the agency’s religious beliefs.

In addition to LGBTQ people and same-sex couples, the Aderholt Amendment would also impact interfaith couples, single parents, married couples in which one prospective parent has previously been divorced or other qualified parents to whom an agency could have an objection.

According to the Adoption Information Network Law Center, there are currently more than 400,000 children in foster care in the U.S. and, of those, approximately 115,000 are waiting to be adopted. Additionally, the ongoing opioid crisis is putting an increased strain on an overburdened system.

Wide Horizons For Children believes the U.S. House Aderholt Amendment is a giant step backwards for children, eliminating couples and individuals who want to provide a loving, permanent home to a child.

“Now more than ever, we need additional resources for children in need of a permanent, adoptive family. This license to discriminate has reduced the pool of qualified prospective families and is, at its core, anti-child,” says Janice Hoffman, CEO and President of Wide Horizons For Children.

She continues, “Congress should be focusing on ways to solve the crisis rather than introducing obstacles that will extend the trauma and risk for children living outside of a permanent, loving home.”

Wide Horizons For Children receives no government funding and runs several adoption programs open to LGBTQ singles and couples.

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Wide Horizons For Children (whfc.org) is dedicated to the well-being and security of vulnerable and orphaned children worldwide. Through a range of innovative programs, we keep vulnerable families together, provide loving, quality care for children living in orphanages and build and support families through adoption. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.